Compare towns
Spencer vs Killingly vs Fairhaven vs Charlton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Spencer has the most people working from home (15%).
Killingly has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Fairhaven has the most expensive homes ($447k median).
Charlton has the most kids (24.7% under 18).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Spencer | Killingly | Fairhaven | Charlton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 12,008Lowest |
17,867Highest |
15,903 |
13,435 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.9±6.8Highest 26% above U.S. |
39.5±3Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.5±3.4 25% above U.S. |
43±4 11% above U.S. |
| Spencer and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
24.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Charlton and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Spencer and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.8%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Charlton and Killingly are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $80,533±$11kLowest about the U.S. average |
$84,350±$8k 4% above U.S. |
$95,965±$19k 19% above U.S. |
$117,587±$8kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Charlton and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,000±$22k 15% above U.S. |
$288,600±$15kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$446,700±$19kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$427,500±$19k 28% above U.S. |
| Fairhaven and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$161 24% below U.S. |
$1,044±$141Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,118±$79 21% below U.S. |
$1,381±$415Highest about the U.S. average |
| Charlton and Fairhaven are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,387 41% above U.S. |
$3,922 26% above U.S. |
$3,566Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$4,617Highest 48% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±10.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.8%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.1%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.3%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairhaven and Spencer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 63%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Spencer and Charlton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #261 of 282 in MA | #136 of 149 in CT | #126 of 282 in MA | #133 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Spencer-E Brookfield | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Eastern Connecticut Regional Educational Service Center (EAS | Fairhaven | Dudley-Charlton Reg · Southern Worcester County Regional Vocational School Distric |
| High school in town | David Prouty High | Killingly High School | Fairhaven High | Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9 |
11.1 |
11.4Highest |
9.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.